Riff Tone

Even Flow

Pearl Jam

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (Stone Gossard, riff section)

AmpMarshall JCM800 (cranked, studio recording)

PickupsHumbucker (Gibson stock, bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveIbanez Ibanez Tube Screamer (exact model unknown, likely TS9 or TS808)

Notes

Studio recording, 1991. Stone Gossard played the main riff on a Les Paul through a Marshall JCM800. Mike McCready played a Strat but is not the primary riff guitarist. Both used Tube Screamers for added drive. Settings are estimated based on era, genre, and typical Marshall usage for this sound.

Tone Character(10)

British crunchpunchy and mid-forwardtight and percussiveraw and dynamicslightly compressed attackopen and aggressive rhythmwarm low endclear note separationslight amp reverb for spaceno modulation or delay in riff

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate skills due to syncopated rhythm, open tuning, and dynamic picking, but does not involve advanced lead techniques or complex chord voicings.

Sources

Learn to play Even Flow by Pearl Jam on guitar the right way | MusicRadar Mike McCready breaks down 15 landmark Pearl Jam guitar tracks | Guitar World Pearl Jam high gain overdrive/distortion - The Gear Page

This tone has been researched 19 times by the community

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